Quiet efficiency is the plotline of Vrabel’s story

By Rich Garven TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Tuesday

Jan 29, 2008 at 12:50 AM

The Patriots’ linebackers are, as one would suspect, a popular topic of conversation around here.

There’s Junior Seau’s still ringless finger, Adalius Thomas and his country cousin, Justin Tuck of the Giants, and the return “home” of Tedy Bruschi, a former University of Arizona standout. But what of the fourth member of the highly decorated unit that will play in Super Bowl XLII on Sunday?

Mike Vrabel doesn’t have a catchy story, but he has had a terrific season. Perhaps the best of any Patriot defender.

Although he’s had a quiet postseason, Vrabel was fourth on the team with 77 tackles and first with a career-high 12-1/2 sacks and four forced fumbles during the regular season. That’s the third-best sack total in Patriots history and nearly matched his combined total of the last three years (14-1/2).

Those numbers helped Vrabel get voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his 11-year career. He then topped that by being one of four linebackers named All-Pro, the others being Lofa Tatupu of the Seahawks, DeMarcus Ware of the Cowboys and Patrick Willis of the 49ers.

“All his work is coming up to surface to see that he is a great outside linebacker, and he can do it,” said Seau, who cited Vrabel’s versatility and unselfishness as his finest attributes.

Vrabel has consistently been in the middle of the action, and he credits that to being on the outside. After moving back and forth between inside and outside linebacker the last two years, Vrabel has strictly lined up on the edge in all 18 games thus far.

“I think it was the key to the production,” Vrabel said. “At inside linebacker, you’re more inclined to be around the football on running plays or dropping into coverage. As an inside linebacker, there are plays you’re supposed to make, and as an outside linebacker, there are plays you’re supposed to make. Either way, I thought I tried to make the plays I should make, regardless of the position.”

Now the Patriots find themselves in a position to win their fourth Super Bowl in seven years. It’s been three years since they last got this far, but it didn’t take long after touching down in Arizona to remember the routine.

“As soon as you get here it hits you,” Vrabel said. “The signs are up, the security is up, everybody has to have a badge. It does come on you pretty quickly. I think you just take it in stride and try to enjoy it. Just slow down and take a look around and see what is really going on and what is happening around you and just try to have a good time.”

Vrabel was originally drafted by the Steelers in the third round in 1997 after an All-America career at Ohio State. He spent four undistinguished seasons in Pittsburgh (43 total tackles, 0 starts) before the Patriots pursued the unrestricted free agent.

It came down to returning to Pittsburgh or moving to New England. Vrabel recalled how coach Bill Belichick made no promises other than he would get the chance to compete for playing time.

It wasn’t a soft sell, but that’s why it wasn’t a hard decision.

“He’s not really caught up in the guys that are supposed to be good players or allegedly good players,” Vrabel said. “He wants guys that are going to go out there and work, be smart and are dependable and consistent. Those are the kind of guys we have on this football team.”

Vrabel has since seen his role expand from situational player to every-down ’backer while even getting some looks on offense in goal-line situations since joining the Patriots. He has also proven to be durable, having only missed three games (all in 2003) the last seven seasons.

Even for a player who demands much of himself and his teammates, it’s more than Vrabel ever expected.

“I don’t know how many guys come into the NFL thinking they are going to play 11 years, first of all,” he said. “To win three Super Bowls, go to a Pro Bowl, I would say that it has probably exceeded any expectation at the time I was (drafted).”

On second thought, Vrabel does have a pretty good story.

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